From the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) to the Goal of Everlasting Peace

By Min Khant

 

AT present, the paramount aspiration of the entire populace residing within the State is the cessation of armed conflicts that have persisted for over seven decades since inde­pendence, and the realization of everlasting peace.

 

In accordance with the ob­jective imperatives of the nation, state stability and socioeconomic development can only be accel­erated and consolidated once sustainable peace is achieved. Only through enduring and ever­lasting peace can armed conflicts be brought to an end, enabling the successful realization of the national objective sought by all national brethren: the building of a Union founded upon democratic and federal principles.

 

It is precisely for this reason that the Government is making unwavering and steadfast endeav­ours to secure perpetual and ev­erlasting peace for the benefit of the State and the entire populace. The foremost and indispensable step toward achieving sustainable peace is the signing of the Nation­wide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and the expeditious realization of political objectives within an optimal timeframe.

 

The NCA serves not only as a solid cornerstone for achiev­ing enduring and everlasting peace but also as the gateway to the broader peace process. It is therefore imperative to advance courageously and resolutely along the path of national recon­ciliation and political dialogue through this gateway.

 

The essence of the NCA lies in upholding Our Three Main National Causes and in building a Union based on democratic and federal principles that fully guarantees democracy, national equality, and self-determination in accordance with the Union Spirit founded on liberty, equali­ty, and justice, and in alignment with the outcomes of political dialogues. Ethnic Armed Or­ganizations (EAOs) are there­fore urged to comprehend the profound essence of the NCA, transcend self-interest and pride, and conscientiously co­operate to fulfil the genuine aspirations of the State and its people.

 

The NCA is not merely a ceasefire agreement; rather, it represents a momentous mile­stone executed through mutual consensus among the Govern­ment, the Tatmadaw, and Ethnic Armed Organizations, with the overarching aim of establishing a Union based on democracy and federalism peacefully and stably.

 

The NCA was not drafted uni­laterally by any single individual or entity; it is a historic accord for­mulated based on the aspirations and proposals of Ethnic Armed Organizations, rigorously nego­tiated and agreed upon through numerous rounds of deliberations involving the Government, the Hluttaw, the Tatmadaw, and the Ethnic Armed Organizations be­fore being formally signed.

 

A retrospective look at the historical genesis of the NCA fur­ther illustrates its significance, solemnity, and intrinsic value. It commenced under the first democratic Government on 18 August 2011, when President U Thein Sein extended an invitation for peace to achieve perpetual and everlasting peace. To con­duct substantive peace dialogues aimed at resolving over seven decades of ethnic armed conflicts, the Union Peacemaking Central Committee (UPCC), the Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC), and Union-level peace negotiation teams were estab­lished, subsequently conducting peace talks with Ethnic Armed Organizations at both state and Union levels.

Responding to the demo­cratic government’s invitation for a nationwide ceasefire, Eth­nic Armed Organizations pro­gressed from state-level talks to Union-level dialogues. To enhance the effectiveness and outcomes of Union-level engagements, 16 Ethnic Armed Organizations formed the Nationwide Cease­fire Coordination Team (NCCT) and the Senior Delegation (SD) in 2014, initiating formal negotia­tions with the Union Peacemak­ing Work Committee (UPWC). Throughout 2015, the draft NCA was exhaustively deliberated and refined with leaders from the 16 Ethnic Armed Organizations, culminating in the historic, dig­nified signing ceremony of the NCA on 15 October 2015. The sign­ing ceremony brought together nine government representatives led by President U Thein Sein alongside Tatmadaw leaders, 24 representatives comprising three delegates each from eight Ethnic Armed Organizations, 21 domes­tic witnesses, and international witnesses representing China, India, Japan, Thailand, the Euro­pean Union, and the United Na­tions. With two additional Ethnic Armed Organizations acceding to the agreement in 2018, a total of 10 organizations have officially signed the accord.

 

The NCA comprises 7 chap­ters, 33 articles, 86 sub-articles, and a total of 104 provisions. It encompasses Basic Principles, Aims and Objectives, Ceasefire Matters, Consolidating the Cease­fire, Guarantees for Political Dia­logue, Future Political Roadmap, and Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

The paramount principle of the NCA is to establish a Union based on democracy and federal­ism that offers full guarantees in accordance with the outcomes of political dialogues, and to refrain from resolving political problems through military means. Instead, it seeks to resolve issues through political dialogue, foster a new political culture, and prioritize a nationwide ceasefire as the pre­requisite to ending armed conflict.

 

A defining attribute of the NCA—imbued with noble inten­tions and substantive depth—is that its provisions were formu­lated based on the aspirations and initial proposals stemming from the Ethnic Armed Organiza­tions’ conferences held in Laiza, Kachin State (November 2013) and Law Khee Lar, Kayin State (June 2015). The Government and the Tatmadaw engaged with all Ethnic Armed Organizations in an atmosphere of warmth and cordi­ality through unprecedented con­cessions, magnanimity, patience, and an earnest commitment to perpetuate peace in Myanmar. Consequently, the NCA was not achieved easily; from the inaugu­ral invitation for peace talks under the first democratic government to the signing of the agreement, the process spanned 1,450 days and involved more than 5,000 con­sultative meetings.

 

As a binding commitment and mutual agreement between the Ethnic Armed Organizations and the State Government, the NCA was ratified by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw as a Union Accord. As such, it remains a historic and inviolable treaty that cannot be nullified under any circumstance. Therefore, the Government and the Tatmadaw remain committed to rigorously adhering to the pro­visions of the NCA in their pursuit of enduring peace.

 

Under the incumbent elected administration, the third demo­cratic government, the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Cen­tral Committee (NSPCC), led by the President, keeps the door to peace perpetually open. It con­tinues to pursue enduring peace along the NCA path to bring an end to armed conflicts. According­ly, to implement the peace process essential for national stability and development, an open invitation without preconditions was issued on 21 April 2026 vide Statement 1/2026 to convene talks.

 

Following the peace invitation extended by the new, third demo­cratic government, the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Ne­gotiation Committee (NSPNC), to be in-line with government peace policies, has engaged in sustained dialogues with NCA signatories, EAOs that have deviated from the NCA path, non-signatory EAOs, peace partners, armed groups, political parties, peace facilitators, and diplomats. These engage­ments were initiated primarily through bilateral discussions, focusing on local development undertakings to cultivate mutual understanding and trust.

 

During the six months from 11 April 2026 to 10 October 2026 under the newly elected admin­istration, the NSPNC convened 13 meetings with seven NCA-sig­natory EAOs, eight meetings with five non-signatory EAOs, and seven meetings with six peace partner organizations – totalling 28 rounds of discussions with 18 entities. Constructive delibera­tions have been achieved, and en­gagements are proceeding based on mutual respect and trust.

 

The primary agendas ad­dressed in these meetings encom­pass building mutual trust and confidence; expeditiously estab­lishing a Union based on democ­racy and federal principles in ac­cordance with political outcomes; fostering regional peace, stability, and development; upholding the rule of law; combatting illicit nar­cotics, transnational crimes, and online scam operations; eradicat­ing terrorist organizations from relevant territories; facilitating the delivery of humanitarian as­sistance to areas in need; and en­gaging in open, frank, and cordial discussions to encourage EAOs that have strayed from the NCA framework to rejoin the peace process.

 

Furthermore, recognizing that earning the trust and con­fidence of the public is indispen­sable to the success of this mon­umental undertaking, concerted efforts are underway to adopt a people-centred approach, ensur­ing that the dividends of peace are enjoyed by the populace at the earliest possible juncture.

 

The ethnic armed conflicts that erupted in tandem with the very date of independence have been perpetuated by divergent political agendas, narrow ethnocentric outlooks, and self-serving individual in­terests. Under the pretext of self-determination and ethnic rights, armed entities have sought territorial control and mobilized funds through illicit enterprises, including the nar­cotics trade, illegal exploitation of state-owned natural resourc­es, online fraud syndicates, and cross-border arms trafficking – which have become deeply entrenched in peripheral are­as beyond the administrative reach of the State.

 

The State cannot accept de­mands driven by fervent ethnic and local parochialism that ex­ceed reasonable bounds and are pursued through armed violence. Ethnic Armed Organizations are thus strongly urged to eschew the pursuit of their aspirations by force of arms and, instead, em­brace the new political culture of constructive dialogue.

 

As the incumbent adminis­tration is a democratically elect­ed government working in close cohesion with the Government, the Tatmadaw, and the people stand united at this pivotal juncture to facilitate a smooth transition towards achieving the common national aspiration shared by all ethnic nationali­ties and the entire populace: “strengthening a genuine, dis­ciplined multiparty democratic system and building a Union founded upon democratic and federal principles.”

 

Therefore, with a view to restoring stability, peace, and socioeconomic well-being to lo­cal populations who have borne the brunt of armed conflicts, an opportune moment has ar­rived to act with wisdom and vigilance, cease hostilities na­tionwide, and embark on the NCA path – the gateway to ev­erlasting peace.

 

Accordingly, EAOs current­ly on the NCA path, those that have diverged from it, and those hesitating to embark upon it are earnestly exhorted to demon­strate a genuine aspiration for perpetual and ever lasting peace, open-mindedness, patience, and resilience against external in­stigations. By prioritizing prag­matic necessities over parochial demands and making courageous decisions, all stakeholders are called upon to exert collective, concerted efforts to swiftly realize the ultimate goal of everlasting peace, advancing from the Na­tionwide Ceasefire Agreement to eternal and everlasting peace.